Actress. Born Pearl Fay White, she was the ninth child of Edward G. and Elizabeth House White, one of only four to survive to adulthood. Her mother died in 1891. At the age of six, she appeared in a production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in order to help with the family finances. She appeared in various juvenile theatrical roles during her childhood, and after leaving high school before graduation, she performed in stock theater before she took a secretarial job at Powers Film Company in the Bronx where she was noticed by director Joseph A. Golden, and over the next 13 years she made more than 100 comedy shorts and serials. The most famous of her efforts came about in 1914 when she starred in a 20-episode serial for the American branch of the French film company Pathé, "The Perils of Pauline," which became the most successful serial in film history, making White an international star. Initially she did numerous, often dangerous stunts for the series, which resulted in a number of injuries, including a back injury. Her other serials included, "The Exploits of Elaine" in 1915, "The Iron Claw" in 1916, and "The Black Secret" in 1919. She appeared on the cover of "Photoplay Magazine" three times between 1914 and 1917, and in numerous magazine articles. In 1920, she moved to 20th Century Fox in order to audition for a transitional role to a dramatic leading lady, appearing is almost a dozen films such as "The Mountain Woman"(1921), "The Broadway Peacock" (1922), and "Plunder" (1923), but she was an unpopular lead, and the attempt was a failure. Old injuries and other health issues in combination with depression, lead to both her reported alcoholism and her early retirement. She emigrated to Paris where she appeared in one film, "Terreur" in 1924 before leaving acting behind permanently. Over the course of her career, she became the highest paid film actress in the industry, reportedly earning almost $2 million which she invested in a successful Parisian nightclub, a Biarritz resort hotel and casino, and a profitable stable of thoroughbred race horses. She was able to live very comfortably in retirement. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard.
Actress. Born Pearl Fay White, she was the ninth child of Edward G. and Elizabeth House White, one of only four to survive to adulthood. Her mother died in 1891. At the age of six, she appeared in a production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in order to help with the family finances. She appeared in various juvenile theatrical roles during her childhood, and after leaving high school before graduation, she performed in stock theater before she took a secretarial job at Powers Film Company in the Bronx where she was noticed by director Joseph A. Golden, and over the next 13 years she made more than 100 comedy shorts and serials. The most famous of her efforts came about in 1914 when she starred in a 20-episode serial for the American branch of the French film company Pathé, "The Perils of Pauline," which became the most successful serial in film history, making White an international star. Initially she did numerous, often dangerous stunts for the series, which resulted in a number of injuries, including a back injury. Her other serials included, "The Exploits of Elaine" in 1915, "The Iron Claw" in 1916, and "The Black Secret" in 1919. She appeared on the cover of "Photoplay Magazine" three times between 1914 and 1917, and in numerous magazine articles. In 1920, she moved to 20th Century Fox in order to audition for a transitional role to a dramatic leading lady, appearing is almost a dozen films such as "The Mountain Woman"(1921), "The Broadway Peacock" (1922), and "Plunder" (1923), but she was an unpopular lead, and the attempt was a failure. Old injuries and other health issues in combination with depression, lead to both her reported alcoholism and her early retirement. She emigrated to Paris where she appeared in one film, "Terreur" in 1924 before leaving acting behind permanently. Over the course of her career, she became the highest paid film actress in the industry, reportedly earning almost $2 million which she invested in a successful Parisian nightclub, a Biarritz resort hotel and casino, and a profitable stable of thoroughbred race horses. She was able to live very comfortably in retirement. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard.
Bio by: Iola
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